Chimera of Batius - Chapter 12

“Brother. It’s the birthday of your two siblings, why do you look like that?”

Hilinda clinked her glass and winked. The bright red wine swirled inside. Ruzerolt snapped back to consciousness from wherever his thoughts had wandered and sat up straight. Following Hilinda’s gesture, he raised his glass in a toast, but his mind kept drifting, worried.

Cheil had disappeared.

Had Dexler taken him? Yet the guards and servants swore no one from Dexler’s side had been near Cheil’s room. Then had he gone out for air? With that body…

“On a day like today, forget your worries and enjoy yourself, brother.”

Dexler echoed Hilinda’s words. Seeing Ruzerolt drink the wine, Hilinda curved her lips into a smile.

“They say you prepared something special for this birthday, Dexler. That you brought a beautiful dancer.”

“When did you hear that?”

At the mention of Cheil, Ruzerolt looked at the twins. Hilinda smiled wider and watched the small change in Ruzerolt. She lifted her chin arrogantly and twirled her glass in the air.

“When can I see this dancer?”

“Well, Hilinda, I’m not sure you’ll be able to see him…”

“What do you mean?”

Hilinda’s hand froze. Dexler clicked his tongue in disdain and handed his empty glass to a servant.

“He was getting insolent, so I had to teach him a lesson.”

Hilinda frowned.

“You mean you crippled him after bringing him here?”

“Crippled, huh? Let’s say I was generous this time. At least he left my room with arms and legs.”

Dexler glanced at Ruzerolt’s silver hair. The latter kept drinking and listening.

“He has a truly beautiful dance. I’ve never seen a movement as beautiful as that dancer’s. Isn’t that right, brother?”

Dexler turned to Ruzerolt for confirmation.

“I should have held back. Then I could have seen that dance again. Now I regret it a little.”

Dexler lamented sincerely. Hearing him, Ruzerolt felt a bit calmer.

Thank goodness. It seems Dexler hasn’t taken Cheil.

The dark cloud over Ruzerolt’s face lifted.

Maybe he just went for a walk to get some air. At least he was sure Cheil hadn’t fallen into Dexler’s hands. Knowing that alone eased his worry.

Hilinda rested her elbows on the table, propped her chin, and smiled.

“Brother, you suddenly look much happier. Does Dexler’s regret relieve you that much?”

“Hilinda, don’t talk nonsense. It’s not like that.”

“Mmm, really?”

Hilinda’s eyes filled with doubt.

Now both Hilinda and Dexler began to watch Ruzerolt’s changes closely. The three siblings sat together, but each had their own emotions, beliefs, and goals. The tension flowing between them was palpable, an instability unseen in ordinary siblings.

As the party dragged on, the tension rose.

“Dexler, is this all you’ve prepared?”

Hilinda asked, popping a grape into her mouth.

“Why? Not satisfied?”

“It’s a common show you can see anywhere. You boasted you’d show me something special on your birthday, so I had high expectations. Even Ruzerolt must think this is nothing special, right?”

“No, everything was wonderful.”

Ruzerolt answered without hesitation. Drunkenness flushed his cheeks from the alcohol he’d drunk. Hilinda pouted, displeased.

“Today you’re not on my side even once.”

Ruzerolt didn’t respond. He was still worried about Cheil.

I wonder if he’s back in his room yet.

He had never been so concerned about someone before. He felt an uncontrollable emotion that confused him. His expression kept changing, shifting from calm to unease. Dexler, who was watching with interest, tapped the table with his fingertips.

“Why is everyone so down? Hilinda doesn’t seem to be in a good mood either.”

“How can you be happy when the party is so boring? This is the first time I’ve had such a dull party.”

“As expected from someone with your refined taste, it’s hard to satisfy you with something like this.”

“How can you say that?”

“There’s no other choice… then I’ll have to show you that.”

“What thing?”

Hilinda’s eyes sparkled.

“I’ve been keeping it just for my own enjoyment. I’ll show it to you.”

Hilinda’s annoyed expression transformed into a radiant smile.

“As always, my dear Dexler.”

Hilinda tightly grasped Dexler’s hands and looked at him with eyes full of emotion.

That…?

Ruzerolt’s hand, which had been spinning his glass, stopped. Ruzerolt and the twins had been born under a scale that couldn’t balance. Both knew it instinctively. The moment the twins’ happiness increased, Ruzerolt felt as if a heavy burden was dragging him down. Dexler’s joyful shouts caused him deep unease. Dexler clapped twice loudly.

“Bring it.”

Everyone present at the party focused their attention on Dexler. With astonished faces, they looked at the closed door at the back of the hall. A moment later…

“I think everyone will like it. I’m sure.”

Dexler murmured in a low voice. The large double doors opened and a man dressed in red appeared.

Tall, with black hair and amber eyes that looked down with sadness.

“Cheil…”

Ruzerolt spoke the name. Dexler, reclining in his chair, boasted.

“It was too good to use just for a day or two.”

The dancer dressed in red walked toward the center of the ballroom. Ruzerolt lowered his glass and tightly gripped the armrest of his chair. Only thanks to the darkness weighing on his heart could he avoid jumping up.

The surrounding air seemed to have frozen. Feeling his heart grow cold, Ruzerolt looked at Dexler with a penetrating gaze. Dexler shrugged and brought a grape to his mouth.

“I’ve recovered what’s mine. Why do you make that face, brother?”

“He’s very… hurt.”

“I know. But he’s still mine, so the decision of what to do with him is mine.”

The music began to play, interrupting the conversation between the two. Cheil’s dance began. Hilinda leaned forward to focus on Cheil. Every time he extended his arm, Ruzerolt felt that Cheil was suffering. At least, that’s how he saw it.

The red fabric waved, creating fluid movements. As the dance intensified, defined muscles could be glimpsed under the translucent fabric. Hilinda moistened her lower lip with her tongue.

“Dexler, can I borrow that today?”

While asking the question, her gaze remained fixed on Cheil.

“Well, I’d like to lend it to someone who wants it desperately.”

The movements that drew all eyes were so fluid that it didn’t seem he had suffered such a serious injury. Cheil approached closer and closer to the main seat, passing by each of the chair backs where the audience was seated. He was heading toward the front seat, right in front of Dexler, his owner for that month.

Dexler extended his palm toward the dancer behind him. The gesture of placing the hand on Dexler’s palm was natural. Ruzerolt clenched his fists and watched Cheil. For a brief moment, their gazes met.

It was only for a moment, but he was smiling. It was a resigned smile. He silently accepted his current situation. Just as he had endured his companions’ cold-water baths, or when he had been falsely accused of theft without putting up a fight.

Anger began to boil in Ruzerolt’s chest.

Crack!

At that moment, Dexler pulled Cheil and pushed him against the table, almost strangling him. Cheil’s back hit the table, which was still full of plates, fruits, and cutlery. Cheil tried to lift his back to avoid the pain, but Dexler pushed harder, crushing his efforts.

“Ugh…”

Finally, a weak groan escaped Cheil’s lips. His only resistance was to grab Dexler’s wrist.

“Move properly.”

“Dexler.”

Ruzerolt called his brother, trying to stay calm despite his anger. Cheil’s expression was distorted by pain. The spectators, unable to see his suffering, kept drinking and listening to music while admiring the dancer before them. Dexler raised a glass with one hand.

“I like beautiful things, but I also like those who obey me blindly like a docile lamb. What did you do? You disobeyed the northerners and dared to defy me.”

Dexler tilted the glass in the air. Cheil’s chest began to soak in a dark red color. The dripping wine soaked the bandage covering his wounds. Cheil gritted his teeth. Despite everything, he continued dancing to seduce the audience.

“Dexler, stop.”

The veins on the back of Ruzerolt’s hand bulged. Dexler, holding the glass upside down, glanced at him and handed the glass back to the servant. A new full glass was tilted toward Cheil’s face.

“I’m giving him a chance to atone for his crime of deceiving me. Why are you trying to stop me, brother?”

As the glass tilted over Cheil’s face…

Crack!

Ruzerolt stood up from his chair. His hand closed around Dexler’s wrist.

“Enough.”

Ruzerolt spoke in a cold voice. The atmosphere in the ballroom, once filled with laughter and conversation, became tense. Dexler alternated his gaze between his hand, Cheil, and Ruzerolt, and let out a small laugh. Ruzerolt pushed his brother aside and helped Cheil up. The tablecloth where he had been lying was stained with wine and bl00d. Seeing Ruzerolt embrace Cheil, Dexler sat down in his chair with a thud. He rested his arm on the armrest and showed his disapproval.

“Are you planning to take something from your brother on his own birthday?”

Cheil, in Ruzerolt’s arms, was trying to catch his breath. Ruzerolt bit his lower lip and looked at Dexler with determination. The latter looked at him with curiosity.

“Do you like him?”

“I’ll send you a much more satisfying gift.”

“How good will it be?”

“Something worth more to you than this dancer.”

“So you want the dancer?”

“I think you can reward the captain of the guard who has successfully protected the north all year. You’ve had enough fun.”

“What fun?”

“This situation must be one of your amusements. I’ll take him.”

It wasn’t common to see Ruzerolt, always so cold, holding a dancer. Realizing this, Dexler burst into loud laughter.

The music played even louder. Ruzerolt pulled Cheil.

“Come with me.”

Cheil let himself be led by Ruzerolt’s hand. Dexler and Hilinda watched the scene with bright eyes.

“If you liked him so much, you could have said so earlier. I would have left you the dancer, after all.”

“Fine. Then from now on, he’ll be mine.”

Ruzerolt took Cheil’s hand and headed for the exit. Seeing them leave, Dexler shook his head and took another drink.

“Hilinda, did you hear? The dancer is now my brother’s.”

Hilinda pouted and got angry. But Dexler kept smiling widely.

What had just happened was just another of the many amusements for the northerners. The boisterous laughter filled the ballroom again. The sound of the door closing couldn’t interrupt the lavish party.